The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-12-01
Some Queer Things.
"He maketh the wrath of man to praise him."

Perhaps no one idea, since the abol-
ition of slavery, has created such
widespread discussion, and called out
such diversity of opinions-or at least
expressed opinions-as the Temper
ance Question. As the agitation has
progressed, men have b; come embit-
tered toward each other, and the un-
profitable and unfortunate state OF
affairs has been reached wherin calm
and friendly discussion has given
place to bitter denunciation, and the
better impulses Of humanity have
been smothered in the rage for politi-
cal notoriety. We deplore this con-
dition of things. It does not promise
well for any great reform, nor does it
indicate the rapid progress of the race
in the direction of sobriety and NOR
atty.
For many years we havs advocated
the duty of every good citizen-as we
viewed ito fight the liquor traffic
to the bitter end. We have made a
conscientious fight against the great
curse. We have believed that great
good might be wrought out by the
education Of the people-or at least
the attempted education of the people
as to the awful proportions of this
great crime. Surely upon this great
moral question all good people could
unite, and by calm, prayerful con-
sideration Of the subject, attempt to
work out, even though it might be
with fear and trembling, the best pos
sible results. But here seemingly
insurmountable obstacle arose. Then
Temperance forces were divided as to
methods, and with all the reasoning,
all the discussions, all the prayers, all
the desires Of the more thoughtful
people, no possible harmony could be
brought about between the forces for
good Thus the case stands at this
time. AS moral question, the Tenn
perance Question will continue to be
agitated, and discussed, and prayed
over, yea, and quarreled over. As a
political hobby it will be made the
basis of the most ridiculous assump-
tions, in the future as in the past.
But what progress are we making,
amid all these petty differences.
Should we stop, in our work, to quar-
rel over matters Of detail, or let a
grand work suffer because we may diff
fer as to some Of the minor points un-
der consideration Certainly not. 1t
is therefore the more distressing to
see the bad use made Of good cause,
which has been witnessed recently in
this and other communities. And
upon this point we wish to say very
few words.
We have always regarded the ques-
| ton Of human morals as being as
broad as Heaven, and as deep as He'll;
as powerful as the capabilities of
thought, and as important as the air
we breathe or the food we eat; as fine
ly drawn as the fiber of the intellect,
as dangerous as the wrath of Omnipo-
tence: as important in the considera-
tion Of human affairs, as the teaching
Of child to speak-as threatening as
the most awful plague. And no ques-
ton or phase Of moral thought occu-
pies such an important position be-
fore the people as the Temperance
question Yet, strange as it may
seem, there are few men in every
community who mount upon this
great question and attempt to drag
down to to the level of ward politics,
personal enmities, and Improbable
discussions.
In our advocacy of Temperance we
we have sought to keep above the lev
ell Of political quarrels concerning
moral reformations. This has been
hard to do, but we have done the best
we could. And we have had a hum
orous experience. Here comes man,
so narrow in his views that he cannot
understand how anybody can be in
duced to differ with him, and is great
ly surprised and incensed that a news
paper will presume to advocate Tenn
perenee, and its editor not vote as he
votes, and talk as he talks. Since the
recent election we have been made a
target for slight measure of criticism
and abuse because the Prohibition
Party lost ground in Jackson County.
Now listen, friends, and will tell you
where this criticism comes from. Ev-
cry bit of it comes from two sources
the so-called Prohibition Party, and
the Copperhead Democracy. One
poor, simple creature wrote US that
it was outrages for US to attempt to
arouse All enthusiasm for the past re-
cord of the Republican party, "be-
cause it scared Temperance Republi-
cans back into the Republican party"
All! There's the whole story, in a
very few words. Some shrewd Re-
publican comes along and springs
your trap, and no Republican is
caught! The political discussion, then,
narrows down to an attempt to break
up the Republican party. Let us say
a word to our Prohibition friends
There is no attempt upon the part OF
anybody, Republican or Democrat, to
discuss the question as to whether the